Chinese · Verb Complements

Directional Complements

A directional complement follows a verb and shows which way a movement goes.

来 means towards the speaker and 去 means away from the speaker. A host who is inside says 请进来 (come in). Someone who has to go home says 我要回去拿 (I have to go back and get it).
上, 下, 进, 出, 回, 起 give the direction and combine with 来 or 去 (起 only with 来): 走下来 (come down), 拿出来 (take out), 站起来 (stand up), 爬上去 (climb up).
A place word goes between the direction and 来/去: 跑回家去 (run back home). Without 来/去, the place follows directly: 放进包里 (put into the bag).
起来 also has figurative uses: 想起来 (remember), 下起雨来 (start to rain).

Always ask two questions: where is the speaker, and which way is the movement going?

Examples

欢迎欢迎，快请进！Show answer

欢迎欢迎，快请进来！

我把钱包忘在家里了，要回拿。Show answer

我把钱包忘在家里了，要回去拿。

我在楼下等你，你快下吧。Show answer

我在楼下等你，你快下来吧。

书在楼上，你上拿吧，我在这儿等你。Show answer

书在楼上，你上去拿吧，我在这儿等你。

你先在这儿等我，我马上就回。Show answer

你先在这儿等我，我马上就回来。

爸爸出买东西了，还没回来。Show answer

爸爸出去买东西了，还没回来。

外面有人叫你，你出看看吧。Show answer

外面有人叫你，你出去看看吧。

他不在办公室，已经回家了。Show answer

他不在办公室，已经回家去了。

我在山顶等你们，快爬上吧！Show answer

我在山顶等你们，快爬上来吧！

他在楼下叫我，我得下一下。Show answer

他在楼下叫我，我得下去一下。